Trimble, assisted driving to boost productivity

The 2017 edition of the EIMA Show featured the presentation of Trimble solutions for assisted driving distributed in Italy by Vantage. Put to work in the Deruta farm field for demonstration was the hybrid AutopilotTm Motordrive drive system and a GPS steering system for quick movements

Vantage is a company located in Serravalle near Ferrara which distributes in Italy Trimble technologies dedicated to precision farming with a focus on innovative solutions for the targeted management of machinery. For the EIMA Show, Vantage brought along the hybrid Autopilot^Tm Motordrive which brings together the efficiency and precision of the Autopilot^Tm and the typical versatility if electric assisted steering systems. The Autopilot^Tm Motor drive can be mounted on all types of tractors and harvesting machinery and can be easily transferred to provide efficiency for the farm’s entire machinery inventory and speeding up the return on investment. Another strong point for the Trimble hybrid drive system is performance, similar to hydraulic drive, especially for precision and efficiency. The Autopilot^Tm Motordrive is more efficient and precise for automated steering at low speed and when aligning reverse drive thanks to the integration of the steering system and the CPU for automated driving. The system is ideal for contractor enterprises with extended machinery inventories for the rapid rotation of machinery for all crop operations such as strip tillage, seeding, weeding and spraying under cover where maximum precision is required. In the same sector of tractor guidance, the Serravalle company came to the show with the EZ-Pilot GPS assisted steering system with high precision and rapid movements which integrates directly to the steering column for clear access to cab control. A compact electric motor drive using Trimble guidance ensures fill visibility of the control panel. A Vantage technical note said the EZ-Pilot greatly improves precision for the operator to boost capability in the field due to less operator fatigue. The fact is that the quick reaction of the electric motor and high torque ensures maximum correction speed. For terrain compensation technology, the EZ-Pilot uses T3™ sensors to calculate the actual position of the vehicle to help minimize skips and overlaps in areas with rolling terrain, slopes, and rough ground.

Associated with Trimble technologies for optimizing yields and rationalizing costs, the EIMA Show also featured a variable dosage system, a technical solution Vantage said makes it possible to have “what is needed where it’s needed.” The system starts with analyses of production or “vigor” maps to identify factors limiting productivity and the operative strategy to apply. Once the parameters are determined, Trimble satellite receivers kick in for the “vertical” management of centrifugal or localized operations for applying fertilizer at the right place at the right time, for precision seeding or for spot spraying for weed control in continuous rows with trailed or semi-mounted sprayers. For the objective of optimizing profitability through field operations with satellite control, this can be performed with up to six machines managing productivity, controlling costs and limiting waste. With technologies now available, variable rate fertilization can be handled with all technical means with the application of granular or liquid fertilizer or micro-granular seeding as well as weed control spraying.